On November 25, 2020, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II met the clergy of the Archdiocese of Baghdad and Basra, in the presence of His Eminence Mor Severius Hawa, Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra.

During the meeting, His Holiness encouraged the priests to remain faithful to their holy mission, and congratulated them for being distinguished in their ministry, especially during the difficult times. His Holiness appreciated the good news of their activities and assured them that conviction and self-sacrifice are the foundation of the success of any ministry and of the progress in the spiritual life. He added that the Lord blesses the various sacrifices of the priests when they show real commitment and discipline as well as humility and honesty. The priest thus becomes a role example for others and a model for the youth who are moved by a vocation to serve the church. In this regard, His Holiness also spoke about the seminaries in our church which are offering the possibility to learn the basics of theology as well as the rites and history of our church enabling the priest to teach the orthodox faith and the cultural and moral heritage passed on by our holy fathers. Finally, he encouraged the priests to continuously pursue education and make research in order to better serve the flock entrusted to them.